LAST Saturday saw the completion of the first round of the Hamilton Golf Club men’s championships.
Graham Rentsch is currently leading A grade with a 75 off the stick, with Wayne Riddle sitting three shots behind on 78, Liam Powell 79 and John Hill with 80.
Adam Manson is heading up a very close B grade field with 84 to sit clear of John Andrews 85, Michael Holcombe and Marten Chin 86, Kevin King, Tony O’Connor and Michael Kelso all on 87.
C grade’s leader is Cameron McDonald with 85, Shane Ryan 88, Bruce Luhrs 90 and Phil Schultz 92.
Shannon Kearns is leading D grade with 92, ahead of Phil Grant 95 and Glenn Hards 98.
There are 3 more rounds of stroke to go for A and B grades and two more rounds for C and D grades.
Saturday results
A FIELD of 66 men and 25 women took to the course, as the men played a stroke round and the women played stableford.
The men’s stroke saw Kearns return the best score of the day, finishing with net 68.
A grade was won by visitor, Tom Osmond, with a 70 nett, with Hill coming runners-up on a countback from Graham Rentsch both finishing with nett 73.
B grade was won by Cameron Mcdonald nett 70 ahead of runner-up, Shane Ryan, who recorded nett 72 and third place went to Michael Kelso with nett 73.
C grade honours went to Kearns, ahead of runner-up, Phil Grant, who returned a score of nett 73 and Gary McFarlane’s nett 75 claimed third.
Better scores went to Andrew Keane 73 nett, John Andrews, Tony O’Connor, Adam Manson and Liam Powell all 74 nett and Bruce Luhrs 75 nett.
Judy Thornton took out the women’s stableford event with 37 points with Jo Forsyth claiming second on a countback from Evelyn Coulson after both finished with 35 points, while the other better scores were Jeanette Carmichael and Enid Smith 34, Debbie Milne, Deirdre Simkin and Gerri Griffin all finished with 33 points.
Nearest the pinds went to Adam Manson and Sue Walter on the third, Andrew Keane and Kerryn Price on the sixth, and Marten Chin and Jeanette Carmichael on the 13th and Kim Fielke and Debbie Milne on the 16th.
The closest second shot on the ninth went to Stephen Astbury, while Ben Kelson and Forsyth claimed the honours on the 15th.
Legacy Day
THE club hosted the annual Legacy Day, which was a four-person ambrose event.
The day was well supported with a field of 92 players and approximately $3000 was raised on the day for Legacy; next year’s event has already been locked in for February 26.
It was a closely contested field with two shots separating the winner from sixth place.
The winners were Troy Elliot, Zac Elliot, Wayne Millard and Stephen Giles on a countback with nett 56, holding off Warren Hall, Brett Smith, Clint Northcott and Tim Roll, who were relegated to second.
Di Sevior, Glen Dixon, Alma Fonda and Mark Russell recorded nett 57 to claim third on a countback from David Robertson, Peter Osmond, Bernie Grant and George Osmond.
A quarter of a shot behind in fifth place was Amy Knight, Toby Knight, Howard Templeton and Nan Templeton.
Nearest the pinds went to M. Leese and Donna Gunn on the third, Nigel Staridish and Jane Sharp on the sixth, John Raymond and Liz Nichol on the 13th and Andrew Lewis and Larn Dyson on the 16th.
Damien Ferguson and Sharp collected the longest drive awards.
Wednesday
THE women played was stroke and the final round of the Spectator Trophy, which included a round of stableford, par and stroke with the winner to be announced at the end of year presentation night.
Player of day went to Deb Chambers, who continued her good form with 72 nett.
A grade’s winner was Tania Cullinane with 73 nett, with Ath Archer coming runner’s up on a countback from Robyn Holcombe and Marg King all with 77 nett, and Deb Milne 78 nett
Deb Chambers won B grade with 72 nett ahead of runner-up, Pam King, one shot further back.
Pam White returned with 74 nett to finish third ahead of Rita Walkom 75 nett and Rhonda Scullion 76 nett.
C grade was won by Judy Pekin with 73 nett, two clear of runner-up, Marg Landford, while Lyn Hayes finished third with 77 nett.
Jo Brown and Helen Beattie both finished with 78 nett.
Nearest the pins went to Pam Howell on the third, Rita Walkom on the sixth and Venita Mibus on the 16th.
The closest second shot on the 15th went to Jane Bunge and the longest putts went to Jane Heazelwood on the ninth and Pam King on the 13th.
Liz Wallis won the nine-hole award with 21 points.
Upcoming events
WEDNESDAY is the start of the club’s women’s championships, with the open looking like a hotly contested event.
Last year’s winner, Sue Walter, will have to stay focused with young gun, Molly O’Brien, playing great golf.
Lyn Satchell loves a challenge, and another former club champion, Kerryn Price, is hard to beat, and then Debbie Milne is also a chance.
Elder’s Rural Challenge is being held on March 25 and the club is looking for volunteers to help on the day; anyone who can help out please contact the club.
Entries are also out for the women’s annual Rose Bowl, which is on April 8.
The three-person team event usually attracts a full field and entry forms are now available from the club.
Hit them long and straight and enjoy the 19th hole.
